Becoming Nightshade

The first snowfall of the season arrived with a quiet beauty, transforming Gotham Prep and the city beyond into a winter wonderland. It had started in the evening as a light dusting that quickly grew into thick, steady flakes, blanketing the sidewalks, trees, and rooftops in layers of soft white. By morning, the entire school was covered in a fresh, untouched coat of snow, sparkling under the gray winter sky. Jason was the first to notice it as he stepped out of the manor, his breath misting in the air as he looked around at the transformed landscape. The snowfall made everything feel… quieter, almost peaceful, a rare thing in Gotham. He reached down, scooping up a handful of snow and tossing it back and forth between his gloved hands, a small smile breaking through his usually tense expression.

Maggie joined him outside a few minutes later, pulling her scarf tighter around her neck as she took in the scene. Her eyes lit up, a grin spreading across her face.

"I can't believe it actually snowed this much! It almost… magical."

Jason chuckled, nudging her with his shoulder. "Yeah, until it turns into gray slush by tomorrow. Better enjoy it while it lasts."

They walked together toward the car, carefully navigating the slick, icy ground. All around them, the city seemed to have taken a pause, blanketed in a stillness that only fresh snow could bring. Even the familiar streets looked different, softer somehow, their edges blurred by the powdery white. At school, the usual buzz of holiday excitement was mixed with the awe of the snowfall. Students gathered by the windows, watching as fat flakes continued to drift down. The impending winter recess only added to the energy in the air, everyone chattering about their holiday plans, the break from exams, and hopes for a snow day. Maggie and Jason made their way to their lockers, pausing to admire the view from the tall windows that lined the hallway. Emily and Stephanie joined them, their eyes wide with excitement.

"Can you believe this?" Stephanie exclaimed, pulling her phone out to snap a picture of the snow-covered campus. "It's like something out of a movie."

Emily grinned, bouncing on her toes. "We should totally have a snowball fight after school. Just for old times' sake."

Maggie laughed, nodding eagerly. "I'm in. We haven't done that since middle school! And with winter recess starting next week, it's the perfect way to kick it off."

Jason raised an eyebrow, smirking. "I don't know if they're ready for my snowball skills, Mags. Last time, I remember you ended up face-first in a snowbank."

Maggie rolled her eyes, a playful glint in her eyes. "You just got lucky."

The bell rang, signaling the start of first period, and they reluctantly parted ways, promising to meet up after school for their planned snowball fight. Throughout the day, the snowfall continued, casting a quiet, almost magical atmosphere over the entire campus. Teachers were more relaxed, students were buzzing with holiday spirit, and the excitement of the first snow added a layer of anticipation for winter break.

When the final bell rang, Maggie, Jason, Emily, and Stephanie bundled up and made their way outside, where a few other students had already started building snow forts and rolling snowballs. The grounds around Gotham Prep, normally so orderly and strict, had turned into a playground of laughter and friendly chaos.

"Alright," Jason said, pulling his hood up and grinning as he scooped up a handful of snow. "You ready to lose?"

Maggie narrowed her eyes, crouching down to gather her own pile of snowballs. "Oh, it's on, Jay."

Emily and Stephanie joined in, and soon the air was filled with the sounds of laughter, shrieks, and the soft thud of snowballs hitting their targets. As everyone pelted each other with snow.

For a few precious minutes, everything else seemed to melt away—They were just friends, caught in a moment of pure joy, letting go of their worries and enjoying the simple thrill of a snowball fight.

Eventually, they called a truce, collapsing onto a snow-covered bench, breathless and laughing, their cheeks flushed from the cold and the exertion. Jason leaned back, looking up at the sky as snowflakes continued to drift down, melting as they touched his face.

"This was… exactly what I needed," he said quietly, a rare, genuine smile breaking across his face.

Maggie nudged him, her own smile softening as she looked at him. "Me too. It's nice to just… be us for a while."

Emily grinned, brushing snow off her coat. "We should make this a tradition. First snowfall every year, we do this. No matter what."

Stephanie nodded, her eyes bright. "Agreed. It's the perfect way to start the holidays."

The snowfall had given them a chance to breathe, to let go of the tension that had been hanging over them. And as they parted ways, heading home under the gently falling snow, they carried that warmth with them, a reminder that even in a city as dark as Gotham, moments of light could still break through.

By the time Maggie and Jason arrived back at Wayne Manor, their cheeks were still pink from the cold and their coats lightly dusted with snow from their impromptu snowball fight at school. They were both laughing as they walked up the driveway, reminiscing about the afternoon's battles.

As they reached the front steps, however, something unexpected caught Maggie's eye. Out on the lawn, barely visible under the soft glow of the manor's outdoor lights, were two figures standing near a sizable pile of freshly made snowballs.

Maggie squinted, trying to make them out. "Is that… Dad and Alfred?"

Jason's eyes widened, a grin spreading across his face. "Oh, it's on!"

Suddenly, a snowball came flying through the air, barely missing Jason's head as it smacked into the stone wall behind them. Bruce's voice rang out across the lawn, laced with humor and challenge. "I hope you two are prepared for battle!"

Alfred, standing next to Bruce with a snowball in hand, gave them a small, mischievous smile. "Indeed, Master Jason, Miss Maggie. We've been waiting for you. It's a Wayne Manor tradition that every first snow is marked with a family snowball fight."

Jason laughed, dropping his backpack on the steps and crouching down to start packing a few snowballs of his own. "Oh, you're going down, old man!"

Bruce raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on his face. "Big talk going against the undefeated snowball champion."

Maggie grinned, quickly joining Jason in gathering an arsenal. "Well, there are two of us now. You might be in over your head!"

She lobbed the first snowball toward her dad, who easily dodged it with a quick sidestep. Alfred was quick to retaliate, expertly launching a snowball that caught Jason squarely on the shoulder, sending a soft burst of snow into the air.

"First lesson," Alfred said calmly, clearly enjoying himself. "Never underestimate your opponent, Master Jason."

Jason wiped the snow off his coat, feigning offense. "Alright, Alfred, that's it. Maggie, let's get them!"

They split up, diving behind two bushes on either side of the driveway for cover as they began hurling snowballs toward Bruce and Alfred, who countered with impressive precision and speed. It quickly turned into an all-out battle, with snow flying in every direction, laughter echoing through the chilly evening air. Bruce darted behind a tree, using it as a shield as he launched snowballs at both of them with surprising accuracy. Maggie tried to return fire, but Bruce's reflexes were quick, his snowballs landing just near her feet and forcing her to duck and weave.

Meanwhile, Alfred—ever the gentleman but with a wickedly precise aim—waited for just the right moment, catching Jason in the side again as he popped up from behind his cover.

"You've still got some training to do, Master Jason," Alfred teased, chuckling as he dodged another snowball.

Jason grinned, breathless from the effort but clearly having the time of his life. "You're all talk, Alfred! You better watch out—I'm getting close!"

They continued like that for a good half hour, darting around trees, ducking behind the walls of the courtyard, and covering each other in snow. It felt like the world beyond Wayne Manor had disappeared, and the dark shadows of Gotham seemed a distant memory as they let loose in the winter air. Finally, after Maggie managed to land a solid snowball on Bruce's shoulder, he held up his hands in mock surrender, laughing as he brushed the snow from his coat.

"Alright, alright!"

Alfred, smiling and dusted with snow, gave a slight bow. "A very respectable performance, Master Jason, Miss Maggie. I believe this calls for a truce."

Maggie and Jason shared a victorious grin, bumping their fists in triumph. "We did it," Maggie said, beaming.

Jason grinned, brushing the snow from his own coat. "If we can beat Bruce and Alfred in a snowball fight, we can handle anything."

Bruce chuckled, patting Jason on the shoulder. "Don't get too confident. Next year, we'll be ready. But for now, I think Alfred might have something warm waiting for us inside."

Alfred nodded, his eyes twinkling with warmth. "Hot chocolate with extra marshmallows. The perfect way to conclude a Wayne Manor first snowfall."

As they headed back inside, brushing the snow from their clothes and stomping their boots by the doorway, the warmth of the manor wrapped around them. Alfred quickly served up steaming mugs of hot chocolate, complete with a generous topping of marshmallows, and they all settled by the fireplace, basking in the warmth and each other's company. For Maggie and Jason, it was a rare moment of peace and joy—a reminder that, despite the challenge in their lives, they had a family who loved them, who understood them, and who would always be there to make even the coldest days feel warm.

As they sipped their hot chocolate, laughter still bubbling from the snowball fight, Maggie looked around the room at her family. In that moment, she felt a deep, unshakeable gratitude for these traditions, for these memories. as snow continued to fall gently outside.